capricious
/kəˈpɹɪʃəs/
Group 1Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior GRE
Example in Context
The capricious enforcement of the regulation created uncertainty for businesses that could not predict which standards they would be held to.
Synonyms
unpredictableficklemoody
Etymology
A sudden change in mood like a goat jumping around capriciously!
- capriccio (Italian) — a sudden change
Memory Aid
🐐Sounds like “cap rich us”
Imagine a GOAT wearing a fancy CAP, suddenly changing its mind and jumping off the cliff — it's CAPRICIOUS!
Visual Association
🎢A roller coaster that unpredictably flips and spins, representing wild changes in mood.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “capricious” mean on the GRE?
capricious (adjective) means “Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior”. The capricious enforcement of the regulation created uncertainty for businesses that could not predict which standards they would be held to.
How to remember “capricious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “capricious” sounds like “cap rich us”. Imagine a GOAT wearing a fancy CAP, suddenly changing its mind and jumping off the cliff — it's CAPRICIOUS!
What are synonyms for “capricious”?
Common synonyms: unpredictable, fickle, moody.